VOA时事新闻2023 传粉昆虫在减少吗?（在线收听）

传粉昆虫在减少吗?

A new study suggests changes in world climate and land use are sharply reducing the number of insects needed for pollinating crops.

一项新的研究表明，世界气候和土地利用的变化正在使农作物授粉所需的昆虫数量大幅减少。

The study looked at thousands of species and areas around the world.

这项研究调查了世界上数千种物种和地区。

It found that the number of pollinating insects dropped by 61 percent during periods of abnormally high temperatures and reduced supply of flowering plants.

研究发现，在异常高温和开花植物供应量减少的时期，授粉昆虫的数量下降了61%。

Leaders of the study noted that bees, flies, moths and other pollinators are more affected than the general insect population.

这项研究的负责人指出，蜜蜂、苍蝇、飞蛾和其他传粉者比普通昆虫受到的影响更大。

Results of the research recently appeared in the publication Science Advances.

这项研究的结果最近发表在《科学进展》杂志上。

"We're seeing the climate change is already having this really strong impact on pollinators," study co-writer Tim Newbold told The Associated Press.

这项研究的合著者蒂姆·纽博尔德告诉美联社：“我们看到气候变化已经对传粉者产生了非常强烈的影响。”

He is an ecologist at the University College of London.

他是伦敦大学学院的生态学家。

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates about 35 percent of world food crops and 75 percent of flowering plants depend on insects and other animal pollinators to reproduce.

美国农业部估计，世界上约35%的粮食作物和75%的开花植物依赖昆虫和其他动物传粉者进行繁殖。

The study found the biggest problems with pollinator loss are in the tropics – areas that sit close to Earth's equator.

该研究发现，传粉者流失量最大的地方是热带地区——靠近地球赤道的地区。

The countries most at risk of crop loss from reduced pollinators include China, India, Indonesia and Brazil.

因授粉者数量减少而面临作物损失风险最大的国家包括中国、印度、印度尼西亚和巴西。

Sub-Saharan Africa is also in danger, especially its cocoa and mango crops, the study found.

该研究发现，撒哈拉以南非洲也处于危险之中，尤其是可可和芒果。

Given the current situation, the researchers said some important tropical crops – especially coffee and cocoa – could be badly hurt.

考虑到目前的情况，研究人员表示，一些重要的热带作物——尤其是咖啡和可可——可能会受到严重损害。

Those plants depend heavily on bees and flies to help them reproduce.

这些植物严重依赖蜜蜂和苍蝇来帮助它们繁殖。

Past studies have shown insect populations are decreasing for several reasons, including climate change and loss of habitat.

之前的研究表明，昆虫数量减少的原因有几个，其中包括气候变化和栖息地的丧失。

Other studies have shown shrinking numbers of pollinators, with coffee and cocoa plants especially harmed by the absence.

其他研究表明，授粉者的数量正在减少，咖啡树和可可树因缺乏授粉者而受到的损害尤其严重。

Newbold, from the University College of London, said he sees a "double hit of climate change" affecting the coffee plants themselves, as well as the pollinators they depend on.

来自伦敦大学学院的纽博尔德说，他认为气候变化对咖啡树本身以及它们所依赖的授粉者都有影响。

This does not mean, however, that there will be no coffee or chocolate available, said the study's lead writer, Joe Millard.

然而，该研究的主要作者乔·米勒德说，这并不意味着未来将没有咖啡或巧克力。

It will just mean buyers will have to pay more for them.

这只意味着买家将不得不为它们支付更多的钱。

Millard is a computational ecologist at the Natural History Museum in London.

米勒德是伦敦自然史博物馆的计算生态学家。

University of Delaware insect expert Douglas Tallamy – who was not part of the research – said this study is unusual because it centered on the tropics, which other research has not.

特拉华大学昆虫专家道格拉斯·塔拉米没有参与这项研究，他说，这项研究不寻常，因为它将重点放在热带地区，而其他研究没有。

"We're not paying enough attention to the tropics," Tallamy said. "They are important."

塔拉米说：“我们对热带地区的关注不够，但它们却很重要。”

Newbold noted that pollinating insects in the tropics are likely hit harder than other places because they are already near their temperature limits that place them at risk.

纽博尔德指出，热带地区的授粉昆虫可能比其他地方受到的打击更大，因为它们已经接近温度极限，处于危险之中。

"Massive warming in the tropics is pushing those species over the edge," Newbold said.

纽博尔德说：“热带地区的气温大幅度升高正在将这些物种推向灭绝的边缘”。

Habitat loss is the main driver for the shrinking number of pollinators because it leaves less food for them, Millard said.

米勒德说，栖息地的丧失是传粉者数量减少的主要原因，因为这留给它们的食物越来越少。

Climate change, parasites, disease, and chemicals in the environment add to that difficulty.

气候变化、寄生虫、疾病和环境中的化学物质增加了这一困难。

Newbold said scientists are still trying to find out why pollinators seem to be suffering worse effects from warming temperatures than other insects.

纽博尔德说，科学家仍在试图找出传粉者受气温上升的影响似乎比其他昆虫更严重的原因。

It could be because they have hairier legs and bodies that help them carry pollen, the researchers said.

研究人员表示，这可能是因为它们的腿和身体有更多的毛，这有助于它们携带花粉。

It is like "being forced to have a big furry coat and it's getting hot," Newbold said.

纽博尔德说，这就像“被迫穿上毛大衣，但天气却变得越来越热”。

But the University of Delaware's Tallamy is not so sure.

但特拉华大学的塔拉米对此并不确定。

He said that the study's data is solid, but its explanation as to cause of impact is more of a guess.

他说，这项研究的数据是可靠的，但它对影响原因的解释更多的是一种猜测。